By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The San Antonio Spurs defeating the Los Angeles Lakers Monday evening sent Gregg Popovich to tie Don Nelson for the most NBA Regular Season wins at 1,335. However, he preferred to skip any questions about the achievement.
“You guys know Pop,” Austrian big man Jakob Poeltl explained to reporters, “I don’t think he really cares about stuff like that. It didn’t even really get mentioned. I doubt it will get mentioned when we get the next win. It’s just how he is.”
Popovich, 73, has spent the last 26 years as the Spurs head coach. He started the ongoing season with 1,310 wins in 1,963 Regular Season affairs. He made it one win shy of Nelson’s record on February 26, after the double-overtime win versus the Washington Wizards. Following four losses in a row, he matched the record and will get the opportunity to become the winningest head coach in the next home game versus the Toronto Raptors Wednesday.
“He was trying to get us to play a little bit more aggressive,” Poeltl revealed the genuine goal of Popovich, “In these last few games, we’ve been pretty soft on defense. The shootaround this morning was a little bit more intense. I think that was just him trying to get a message across. He was pushing guys around, and then it kind of ended up in a huddle mosh-pit situation.”
The Lakers missed both LeBron James and Anthony Davis at AT&T Center. “Certainly happy for him, wish it wasn’t against us,” said the losing head coach Frank Vogel, “But Pop is the best.”
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